Phosphorus Cycle Worksheet
An 11th-grade science worksheet covering the key stages, reservoirs, and importance of the phosphorus cycle in ecosystems.
Includes
Standards
Topics
Phosphorus Cycle Exploration
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Read each question carefully and provide your best answer. Some questions may require critical thinking and application of your knowledge about the phosphorus cycle. Good luck!
1. Which of the following is the primary reservoir for phosphorus on Earth?
Atmosphere
Oceans
Sedimentary rocks
Living organisms
2. How does phosphorus primarily enter terrestrial ecosystems from its main reservoir?
Atmospheric deposition
Volcanic eruptions
Weathering of rocks
Photosynthesis
3. Unlike the nitrogen and carbon cycles, the phosphorus cycle does not have a significant phase.
4. Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil in the form of ions.
5. The process by which decomposers return phosphorus to the soil from dead organic matter is called .
6. Eutrophication is often caused by an excess of phosphorus runoff into aquatic ecosystems.
True
False
7. Describe the role of decomposers in the phosphorus cycle.
8. Explain how human activities, such as agriculture, can impact the phosphorus cycle.
Use the words below to complete the sentences.
9. The main reservoir of phosphorus is in rocks.
10. The release of phosphorus from rocks into the soil and water is primarily due to .
11. Excessive phosphorus in aquatic systems can lead to algal blooms and a process known as .